Dirty Laundry by Nix (NC-17)

[susan-peri.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Author on LJ: crimsonquills
Author Website: Obsidian Quills

I thought I’d end the month with a recommendation of a very steamy short story, which I would classify as PWP.

Nix is known for her ability to write sex scenes that are more than just smut. She avoids the clichéd scenes that we see in so much slash, and she makes the sex seem vivid and believable. Her stories, no matter how short, emphasize the relationship between her characters and show the sex as a part of that relationship.

“Dirty Laundry” was originally written for a challenge on MUNCLE. The comments all consisted of a variation of “Wow, hot!” It is indeed very hot and, I find, somewhat addictive.

The first time I read it I had a little concern about the concept of Napoleon wanting to feel dominated and using strange men to achieve the feeling. But the more I thought about it, the more I came to believe in the storyline of a Solo who desired his partner’s strength and was trying to find something else to fulfill his need. And the reaction of Illya to finding Napoleon in the bed and taking control just seemed so, um, hot. Apparently the story awoke something in me, because I found myself dwelling on some of the scenes and replaying the action in my mind for days.

Read some of the story:
"Napoleon." There was an unfamiliar weight on Illya's voice. He made no move to release his partner.

"Illya," Napoleon responded, and silently cursed the calmness of
his own voice. There went any possibility of playing this like it
was anything other than what it appeared to be. Well, if he was
going to be calm about it... "What brings you here this evening?"

"I thought I'd take you out for a drink," Illya said evenly. "But I see
that someone else has already *taken* you. Quite thoroughly."


Dirty Laundry

Comments

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Steamy is right. And also, excellent character voices.

[susan-peri.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the comment. I had a lot of trouble writing this review -- I'm a beta, not normally a writer. (I hope Nix likes what I said.) Anyway, the comments have been helpful because they've pointed out things I've missed in the reviews. It's been a good educational experience.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Ooo, somehow I had missed this one. I already had the kink of liking stories where Napoleon is the more passive partner (thanks to Linda White's 3rd Level stories,) so this fit right in. I thoroughly enjoyed it so thanks for the rec.

[susan-peri.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it.
I'm not familiar with the 3rd level stories; where are they?

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Most are only in zines, but the two slash stories at this site are part of her 3rd level universe. The "butch Illya-more passive Napoleon" isn't glaring, more an idea that runs through the stories.

http://file40.net/white/l_white.html